HOSPITAL READMISSIONS - WHY SHOULD YOU CARE?
Linda Ziac, LPC, LADC, CEAP, CCM, CDP, CMDCP
Case Management & Advocacy | Case Management Expert
“A hospital readmission is when you are discharged from the hospital and wind up going back in for the same or related care within 30, 60 or 90 days.”
Source: healthcare.gov
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JUST THE FACTS
-? ?35 million hospital discharges take place in the US each year
-? ?Unplanned readmissions to hospitals have a price tag of 15 - 20 Billion dollars annually
-? ?20% of Medicare patients discharged from the hospital are readmitted within 30 days
-? ?33% of Medicare patients are readmitted to the hospital within 90 days
-? ?20% to 30% of adverse events following discharge that lead to readmission, are preventable
- ??Another 30% of these adverse events, could at least be minimized????
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SAMPLING OF ADVERSE EVENTS
-? ?Fragmented system of care
-? ?Lack of patient understanding about their diagnosis, care plan, or follow up instructions
-?? Confusion about medications that were prescribed while in the hospital
-? ?Staffing changes due to shift work to cover 24/7, or being moved within various units
-?? Lack of understanding whether to continue medications taken before the hospital visit
-?? Absence of a discharge plan that addresses patient issues and provides needed services
-?? Poor coordination of care between hospital staff and primary care physician or specialists
-?? Uncertainty about which doctor to see for follow up care (e.g. primary care or specialist)
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BEFORE YOU LEAVE THE HOSPITAL
Before your discharge it’s important for you, your hospital care team, and your loved ones to meet in order to develop a discharge plan; that will address your needs once you leave the hospital.
This involves designing a customized plan, based on your abilities, needs and wishes. Some areas to discuss:
-? Patient education
-? Diagnoses
-? Understanding all test results
-? Treatment received
-? Current abilities, challenges and needs
-? Medication review (e.g. discontinued meds, new meds, meds at time of discharge)
-? Next level of care needed (e.g. home with care, short term rehab, long term care)
-? What doctor(s) to see after discharge
-? Discharge instructions
-? Much more
Our next article will discuss the components and importance of discharge planning.
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DISCHARGE PLANNING
“A process used to decide what a patient needs for a smooth move from one level of care to another.”????
Source: Medicare
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Photo from Freep!k
The information in this article is provided as an information resource only, and is not to be used or relied on for any diagnostic or treatment purposes. This information is not intended to be patient education, does not create any patient provider relationship, and should not be used as a substitute for professional diagnosis and treatment.
Please consult your health care provider for an appointment, before making any healthcare decisions or for guidance about a specific medical condition.
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Linda Ziac is a CT Licensed and Nationally Certified professional, with over 49 years of experience in the health and mental health field. In 1990, Linda Ziac had a vision of creating a place where seniors, people with special needs, and their loved ones could turn for support, find answers to their questions, and engage trained professionals to help them navigate the often confusing and overwhelming healthcare maze. Together, Linda works with the client, family, and healthcare staff to help assess and implement ways to allow for the client's greatest degree of health, safety, independence, and quality of life.
"Serving Connecticut for Over 34 Years"
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Case Management & Advocacy | Case Management Expert
3 天前Thank you for reposting this article.